Three charged in Mo's Place death

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One of three men charged in the death of a man at Mo’s Place last year appeared for a short hearing Monday morning.

Rodolfo Hernandez, 44, appeared in Placerville with attorney David Cramer and a translator while Judge James R. Wagoner announced dates related to the case.

A motion to transfer the case to South Lake Tahoe is expected to be filed by Cramer by Friday. Responses from prosecutors are due by May 1.

A hearing to discuss the motion and further proceedings was set for May 3 at 8:30 a.m. in Placerville.

Wagoner granted Cramer’s request that grand jury transcripts related to the case continue to be sealed during the Monday hearing.

Two out-of-custody defendants, Sean Canilao and Ruben Lizzaragga, did not appear at the hearing.

El Dorado County Deputy District Attorney Joe Alexander confirmed warrants were requested for their arrest for failing to appear.

Hernandez is being held in custody for the death of Derek “Zippy” Penaranda, following a May altercation at the South Lake Tahoe bar that left Penaranda in a coma.

He died in October. Each of the three men accused in Penaranda’s death were bouncers at Mo’s Place, where Penaranda was celebrating his 30th birthday.

Penaranda was allegedly asked to leave due to unruly conduct and punched bar owner Manish “Mo” Patel, knocking him unconscious. The bouncers reacted and detained Penaranda, who was also knocked unconscious, according to police.

“By the time (South Lake Tahoe Police Department) arrives, the victim has been deprived of blood flow to the brain for long enough to put him into a ‘persistent vegetative state’ from which he never recovers,” said Alexander. He had no pulse, but through CPR, firefighters were able to re-establish a heartbeat.

Hernandez is being held on a charge of involuntary manslaughter and on an immigration hold with a bail of $50,000.